When the weather gets nice and the students start to get crazy, seize the opportunity to take your class outside! One of the my favorite activities for the last week of school gives focus to the connected world that is the center of our last unit of study in my government class.
(Link to lesson can be found HERE)
Distribute the "Global Issues" cards, one to each student. Extra cards can be set off of the side. Have students form a big circle (at least arms lenghth away from one another). You will needs an open space and this is my excuse to get outside with the class. Have one student share what they think are the pros/cons of globalization. That students has the ball of yarn and after talking about the pros/cons, throws the ball of yarn (while holding onto the string) to another students anywhere in the circle (my rules is AT LEAST two people away). The student that receives the ball of yarn is now "connected" to the first person and their card. Both students say what is on their card and the 2nd students explains how these two concepts are connected. When complete the 2nd student throws the yarn to a 3rd student (while still holding onto the string) and the 3rd student says what is on their card and explains the connection between the 2nd and 3rd cards. This continues with each student explaining a connection and throwing the ball of yarn until all students are "connected" by the yarn and have explained the connections of their cards.
At this point, there should be a "web" of strings in the middle of the circle. I pull together as many of the interesting strings as possible. Using this intersection point, pull on the strings and ask how many students can feel it. Discuss how many different places on earth could be the intersection of these different global issues (usually they decide almost anywher). Then discuss how many things could cause problems at this point (war, weather, illness, poverty, etc) and what would happen as a result. I then use a scissors to cut the one interesting point and watch all of the strings fall apart. Assessment and discussion can take place as needed or appropriate. I usThe activity link above gives a variety of questions or discussions that can be had to go with this activity.
(Link to lesson can be found HERE)
Distribute the "Global Issues" cards, one to each student. Extra cards can be set off of the side. Have students form a big circle (at least arms lenghth away from one another). You will needs an open space and this is my excuse to get outside with the class. Have one student share what they think are the pros/cons of globalization. That students has the ball of yarn and after talking about the pros/cons, throws the ball of yarn (while holding onto the string) to another students anywhere in the circle (my rules is AT LEAST two people away). The student that receives the ball of yarn is now "connected" to the first person and their card. Both students say what is on their card and the 2nd students explains how these two concepts are connected. When complete the 2nd student throws the yarn to a 3rd student (while still holding onto the string) and the 3rd student says what is on their card and explains the connection between the 2nd and 3rd cards. This continues with each student explaining a connection and throwing the ball of yarn until all students are "connected" by the yarn and have explained the connections of their cards.
At this point, there should be a "web" of strings in the middle of the circle. I pull together as many of the interesting strings as possible. Using this intersection point, pull on the strings and ask how many students can feel it. Discuss how many different places on earth could be the intersection of these different global issues (usually they decide almost anywher). Then discuss how many things could cause problems at this point (war, weather, illness, poverty, etc) and what would happen as a result. I then use a scissors to cut the one interesting point and watch all of the strings fall apart. Assessment and discussion can take place as needed or appropriate. I usThe activity link above gives a variety of questions or discussions that can be had to go with this activity.